The Golden Arena awards were established in 1955 as the Yugoslav national film awards, presented annually at the Pula Film Festival

Pula Film Festival

The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....

. From 1955 to 1990 the awards were given for highest achievements in Yugoslav cinema. In 1991 the festival was cancelled due to the breakup of Yugoslavia, only to resume in 1992 as the Croatian film awards festival. It has been held every year since (with the exception of the 1994 edition which was also cancelled).

Since each Pula Film Festival includes screenings of all the locally produced feature films made in the preceding 12 months (which is made possible due to the local film industry's relatively low output), everyone involved in making them is considered automatically qualified for the Golden Arena award. Therefore there are no Academy Award-style shortlists of nominees announced prior to the actual awarding ceremony, although some festival editions did award runner-up acting awards, called Silver Arena.

The awards are given by the jury of five or six members, usually consisting of prominent filmmakers and film critics. Some festival editions also had Best Actor winners as voted by audiences, but these are not considered Golden Arena awards. Also, in the 1950s and 1960s awards in the acting category were given for actors' whole body of work in the preceding year so some of the more prolific recipients are officially listed as having won the Golden Arena award for several films made that year.

List of winners

The following is a list of winners of the Golden Arena for Best Actor at the Pula Film Festival

Pula Film Festival

The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....

.

Yugoslav competition (1955–1990)

Year	Winner	English title(s)	Original title(s)
1955		Moments of Decision	Trenutki odločitve
1956	(shared)	Don't Look Back, My Son Don't Look Back, My Son Don't Look Back, My Son , also known as My Son Don't Turn Round in the United States, is a 1956 Croatian film directed by Branko Bauer.-External links:* at Filmski-Programi.hr...	Ne okreći se sine
1956	(shared)	Big and Small	Veliki i mali
1957		Master of His Own Body Master of His Own Body Svoga tela gospodar is a Croatian film by Fedor Hanžeković. It was released in 1957....	Svoga tela gospodar
1958			Tri koraka u prazno
1959		Miss Stone	Mis Ston
1960		Atomic War Bride Atomic War Bride Atomic War Bride , is a 1960 Yugoslav science fiction drama film directed by Veljko Bulajić.The film won three Golden Arena awards at the 1960 Pula Film Festival, including for Best Director , Best Actor and Best Scenography , and was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the 1960 Venice Film...	Rat
1961			Veselica
1962			Dr
1963		Men	Muškarci
1964		The March to River Drina	Marš na Drinu
1965		Three Three (1965 film) Three is a 1965 Yugoslav film directed by Aleksandar Petrović. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards.-Cast:* Bata Živojinović as Miloš Bojanić* Nikola-Kole Angelovski* Stole Aranđelović... The Enemy	Tri Sovražnik
1966	(shared)	Looking Into the Eyes of the Sun Looking Into the Eyes of the Sun Pogled u zjenicu sunca is a Croatian film directed by Veljko Bulajić. It was released in 1966....	Pogled u zjenicu sunca
1966	(shared)	Rondo Rondo (film) Rondo is a 1966 Yugoslavian film by Croatian director Zvonimir Berković. It was filmed in Zagreb, Croatia .-Plot:...	Rondo
1967		I Even Met Happy Gypsies I Even Met Happy Gypsies I Even Met Happy Gypsies is a 1967 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Aleksandar Petrović. Its original Serbian title is Skupljači perja, which means The Feather Gatherers. The film is centered around Roma people's life in a village in northern Vojvodina, but it also deals with subtler themes such... The Birch Tree The Birch Tree (film) The Birch Tree is a 1967 Yugoslav film directed by Ante Babaja.The film won two Golden Arena awards at the 1967 Pula Film Festival, the Yugoslav national film awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Actor .... The Feast	Skupljači perja Breza Praznik
1968		Before the Truth Wolf of Prokletije	Pre istine Vuk sa Prokletija
1969		When You Hear the Bells The Bridge	Kad čuješ zvona Most
1970		Oxygen	Oxygen
1971		Black Seed	Crno seme
1972		The Master and Margaret The Master and Margaret The Master and Margaret , is a 1972 Italian-Yugoslav film directed by Aleksandar Petrović.The film is an adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's 1967 novel The Master and Margarita, although it mainly focuses on the parts of the novel set in 1920s Moscow.... Traces of a Black Haired Girl	Maestro i Margarita Tragovi crne devojke
1973		Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrdusa Donja Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrdusa Donja Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrduša Donja is a 1974 Yugoslav drama film directed by Krsto Papić. It was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Rade Šerbedžija as Joco / Hamlet* Milena Dravić as Anđa / Ofelija... The Batle of Sutjeska	Bombaši Predstava Hamleta u Mrduši Donjoj Sutjeska
1974		The Wedding	Svadba
1975		Fear	Strah Doktor Mladen
1976			Idealist
1977		Manhunt Beasts The Written Off Return	Hajka Beštije Povratak otpisanih
1978		Bravo Maestro Bravo maestro Bravo maestro is a 1978 Yugoslavian drama film directed by Rajko Grlić. It was entered into the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Rade Šerbedžija - Vitomir Bezjak* Aleksandar Bercek - Tomo* Božidar Boban - Jaksa Radic* Mladen Budiščak - Mladen...	Bravo maestro
1979		The Return	Povratak
1980			Rad na određeno vreme
1981		The Falcon Banović Strahinja (film) Banovic Strahinja is a 1983 Yugoslavian film.-Plot:During the late 14th century Serbia becomes the target of the Ottoman Empire. While the respected Serbian noble Strahinja Banovic is out hunting, a Turkish renegade gang burns his castle, kills all of his servants, and takes the young wife of...	Banović Strahinja
1982		Savamala	Savamala
1983		Something In-Between	Nešto između
1984		Balkan Spy Balkan Spy Balkan Spy is a 1984 Yugoslav comedy film directed by Serbian directors Dušan Kovačević and Božidar Nikolić.-Plot summary:...	Balkanski špijun
1985		When Father Was Away on Business When Father Was Away on Business When Father Was Away on Business is a 1985 Yugoslav film by Serbian director Emir Kusturica. The screenplay was written by the Bosnian dramatist Abdulah Sidran...	Otac na službenom putu
1986		Evening Bells	Večernja zvona
1987		Officer with a Rose	Oficir s ružom
1988		The Glembays The Glembays The Glembays is a 1988 Yugoslav / Croatian film directed by Antun Vrdoljak starring Mustafa Nadarević and Ena Begović. The film is an adaptation of Miroslav Krleža's 1929 play Gospoda Glembajevi and was produced by Televizija Zagreb and Jadran Film....	Glembajevi
1989		Cafe Astoria	Kavana Astoria
1990		Silent Gunpowder Gluvi barut Silent Gunpowder is a 1990 Yugoslavian war film directed by Bato Čengić, starring Mustafa Nadarević, Branislav Lečić, Fabijan Šovagović, Mira Furlan, Boro Stjepanović and Josip Pejaković.- Plot :...	Gluvi barut

Croatian competition (1992–present)

Year	Winner	English title	Original title
1991	Festival was cancelled.
1992		The Murmur of the Shell The Murmur of the Shell The Murmur of the Shell is a Croatian film directed by Miroslav Međimorec. It was released in 1990....	Školjka šumi
1993		The Golden Years The Golden Years (1993 film) The Golden Years is a Croatian film directed and written by Davor Žmegač. It was released in 1993....	Zlatne godine
1994	Award ceremony was cancelled.
1995		Washed Out Washed Out (film) Washed Out is a Croatian film. It was released in 1995....	Isprani
1996		The Seventh Chronicle The Seventh Chronicle The Seventh Chronicle is a Croatian film directed by Bruno Gamulin. It was released in 1996....	Sedma kronika
1997		Mondo Bobo Mondo Bobo Mondo Bobo is a critically acclaimed 1997 Croatian film directed by Goran Rušinović.-Synopsis:Bobo, a young man, kills two criminals in self-defense. Acting on his lawyer's advice, he turns himself in, but ends up in a mental institution. He then escapes and meets up with his girlfriend , but she...	Mondo Bobo
1998		Transatlantic Transatlantic (1998 film) Transatlantic is a Croatian film directed by Mladen Juran. It was released in 1998....	Transatlantik
1999		Madonna Madonna (1999 film) Madonna is a Croatian film directed by Neven Hitrec and starring Ljubomir Kerekeš, Lucija Šerbedžija and Ivo Gregurević. It was released in 1999....	Bogorodica
2000		Marshal Tito's Spirit	Maršal
2001		Slow Surrender Slow Surrender Slow Surrender is a 2001 Croatian film directed by Bruno Gamulin, starring Filip Šovagović, Sven Medvešek and Lucija Šerbedžija. It is based on a novel of the same name by Goran Tribuson....	Polagana predaja
2002		Fine Dead Girls Fine Dead Girls Fine Dead Girls , sometimes also Nice Dead Girls is a 2002 film introduced on Pula Film Festival. The film has been named one of the best Croatian movies of the last decade...	Fine mrtve djevojke
2003		Here Here (film) Here is a Croatian film directed by Zrinko Ogresta. It was released in 2003.-Cast:* Jasmin Telalovic - Kavi* Marija Tadic - Duda* Zlatko Crnkovic - Josip* Ivo Gregurevic - Boris* Ivan Herceg - Karlo* Nikola Ivosevic - Lala...	Tu
2004		Long Dark Night Long Dark Night (film) Long Dark Night is a 2004 Croatian film directed by Antun Vrdoljak and starring Goran Višnjić. It was Croatia's submission to the 77th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-See also:...	Duga mračna noć
2005		What Iva Recorded What Iva Recorded What Iva Recorded is a Croatian comedy film directed by Tomislav Radić. It was released in 2005.-Cast:* Anja Šovagović-Despot - Željka* Ivo Gregurević - Božo* Boris Svrtan - Darko* Masha Mati Prodan - Iva* Barbara Prpić - Nina...	Što je Iva snimila 21. listopada 2003.
2006		The Melon Route The Melon Route The Melon Route is a Croatian drama film directed by Branko Schmidt. It was released in 2006.-Cast:* Krešimir Mikić - Mirko* Sun Mei - Chinese girl* Leon Lučev - Seki* Armin Omerović - Meho* Emir Hadžihafizbegović - Gojko* Ivo Gregurević - Cale...	Put lubenica
2007		Armin Armin (film) Armin is a Croatian/Bosnian drama film directed by Ognjen Sviličić that premiered at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival.-Plot:The film follows Ibro and his son Armin , who travel from a small town in Bosnia to a film audition in Zagreb, hoping to land a part for Armin in a German film about the war in...	Armin
2008		No One's Son No One's Son No One's Son is a 2008 Croatian film directed by Arsen Anton Ostojić. The film won the Big Golden Arena for Best Film at the 2008 Pula Film Festival, the Croatian national film awards....	Ničiji sin
2009		Metastases Metastases (film) Metastases is a 2009 Croatian crime drama film about some of the most common problems in post-war Croatia, including football hooliganism, drug addiction and alcoholism. It was directed by Branko Schmidt.-Plot:...	Metastaze
2010		72 Days 72 Days 72 Days is a 2010 Croatian black comedy film starring Rade Šerbedžija and directed by his son Danilo Šerbedžija.The film was selected as the Croatian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.-Cast:* Rade Šerbedžija – Mane...	Sedamdeset i dva dana
2011			Kotlovina

Multiple winners

The following actors have received multiple awards. The list is sorted by the number of total awards. Years in bold indicate wins in Yugoslav competition (1955–1990).

• 4 : Ljuba Tadić
  Ljuba Tadic
  Ljubomir "Ljuba" Tadić was a Serbian actor who enjoyed a reputation as one of the greatest names in the history of former Yugoslav cinema....
  
   (1956, 1964, 1968, 1975)
• 3 : Bata Živojinović
  Bata Živojinovic
  Velimir "Bata" Živojinović is a Serbian actor and politician.-Biography:Živojinović was born in the town of Koraćica, Mladenovac, Serbia , under the Kosmaj mountain...
  
   (1965, 1967, 1972)
• 3 : Ljubiša Samardžić
  Ljubiša Samardžic
  Ljubiša Samardžić is a Serbian actor and director, who is best known as Šurda in the Vruć vetar TV series.- Early life :Born to the family of a coal miner, his acting talent was discovered very early and he won a scholarship with respected director Bojan Stupica. Samardžić was educated at the...
  
   (1973, 1980, 1982)
• 3 : Filip Šovagović
  Filip Šovagovic
  Filip Šovagović is a Croatian actor, playwright and journalist.At first known simply as the son of renowned Croatian actor Fabijan Šovagović borned in Ladimirevci, Filip Šovagović has appeared in many films and TV shows in the last decade and a half, gradually building a reputation of his own.His...
  
   (1995, 1998, 2001)
• 3 : Ivo Gregurević
  Ivo Gregurevic
  Ivo Gregurević is a Croatian actor. In more than quarter of century Gregurević usually played rural bullies and arrogant nouveau riche and became one of Croatia's best known and most dependable character actors.Gregurević graduated from the Drama Academy in Zagreb and has worked in over 90 movies...
  
   (1999, 2002, 2005)

• 3 : Rade Šerbedžija
  Rade Šerbedžija
  Rade Šerbedžija , occasionally credited as Rade Sherbedgia in some English-language productions, is a Croatian actor, director and musician of Serb origin. He was one of the most popular Yugoslav actors in the 1970s and 1980s. He is now internationally known mainly for his supporting roles in...
  
   (1978, 1986, 2010)
• 2 : Pavle Vuisić (1958, 1977)
• 2 : Boris Dvornik
  Boris Dvornik
  Boris Dvornik was a Croatian actor.Born in Split to the family of a carpenter, Boris Dvornik discovered acting talent at an early age, while performing in children's plays. After studying to become an electrician, he began to pursue a full-time acting career...
  
   (1969, 1979)
• 2 : Miki Manojlović
  Miki Manojlovic
  Predrag "Miki" Manojlović is a Serbian actor, famous for his starring roles in some of the most important films of former Yugoslav cinema. Since the early 1990s, he successfully branched out into movies made outside the Balkans, meaning that he's currently active in productions all over Europe...
  
   (1983, 1985)
• 2 : Ilija Ivezić
  Ilija Ivezic
  Ilija Ivezić is a Croatian film actor. He has appeared in over 55 films since 1961. He was born in Ričice, Gračac, Croatia.-Selected filmography:* Last of the Renegades * Die Rechnung - eiskalt serviert...
  
  (1993, 2000)

External links

• Web archive 1954–2010 at the Pula Film Festival official website